circumnutate

[sur-kuhm-noo-teyt, -nyoo-]

verb (used without object)

circumnutated, circumnutating 

1. (of the apex of a stem or other growing part of a plant) to bend or move around in an irregular circular or elliptical path.

Other Word Forms

• circumnutation noun
• circumnutatory adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of circumnutate¹

1875–80; circum- + nutate < Latin nūtātus, past participle of nūtāre to nod in assent, sway, totter

Example Sentences

The central idea of the book is that the movements of plants in relation to light, gravitation, &c., are modifications of a spontaneous tendency to revolve or circumnutate, which is widely inherent in the growing parts of plants.

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The circumnutation of this plant is interesting, because the species in the genus Lygodium are well known to circumnutate conspicuously and to twine round any neighbouring object.

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These observations were made before we were aware at what an extraordinarily rapid rate the cotyledons circumnutate, and are therefore liable to error.

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By 7.15 P.M. it was asleep and vertically dependent, but continued to circumnutate as long as observed, until 11 P.M.

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Full-grown leaflets circumnutate during the day slowly and on a small scale.

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Related Words

• amble 
• cruise 
• drift 
• float 
• hike 
• meander 
• ramble 
• roam 
• saunter 
• straggle 
• stray 
• stroll 
• traipse 
• trek